The U.S. patent system isn't crap. A ton of innovation has come from it.

The problem is that software patents are given out too easily. User interface patents should probably be dropped or at least expire quicker.

Complex algorithm patents like MP3 make sense but not something like scroll behavior.

But with that said I think this is pretty low of Apple. HTC can't replicate the app store so it isn't as if Apple's profits are really being threatened. This is just lame. Coke does just fine with knock-offs on the market, so can Apple.